Stranded with a Cowboy

“What do you need, Nora?” “The pleasure those eyes promised me the second I met you,” Nora answered. “What happens after I give you the pleasure you’re looking for?” Beau asked. “I go to Paris.” “So, you want a fling?” “I want to be with a man where it doesn’t end in disaster. I want to feel good.” “Why?” “Because I’ve always been a romantic at heart. But I want to feel a man’s touch where it doesn’t end with me brokenhearted.” “Who says I won’t break your heart?” “Because you’re not looking for love. You’ve already found the love of your life. Besides, Adeline told me that you haven’t been in a serious relationship since Annie. I mean, if a relationship is what you’re looking for, then obviously, this can’t happen.” “I can handle just sex, Nora.” “Well, good. So, that’s a yes, then?” *** Stranded with a Cowboy by Stacey Kennedy is part of the Devil’s Bluffs series. Dear Reader, If you love fast-paced stories, laugh-out-loud moments, heart-squeezing emotion and sizzling chemistry, then you’ve come to the right place! Stranded with a Cowboy, the second novel in the Devil’s Bluffs series, features freelance researcher Nora Keller, who’s a romantic at heart, but after two terrible breakups, she’s giving up on love—maybe permanently. Until a gorgeous cowboy begins filling her dreams. Single dad Beau Ward’s quiet life has turned upside down since he and his brother went viral as Texas’s Sexiest Bachelors. To avoid the reporters who want the private, painful details of the passing of his late wife, Beau leaves town to draw the attention away and hides in his remote cabin. Until, in the middle of a tropical storm, Nora arrives on his doorstep. Beau knows a good thing when he sees it, and Nora is certainly a sexy good thing. Before long, one sizzling kiss turns into hot nights as they ride out the storm together, tangled up in the bedsheets. But Nora is not a woman you let go. And when Beau goes back for more, he discovers things won’t be so easy. Only Nora can decide if Beau’s as capable with her heart as he is with her body. Beau and Nora stole my heart, and I hope they steal yours, too! To stay up-to-date on upcoming releases and sales, subscribe to my mailing list at www.staceykennedy.com. To stay in touch, follow me on Instagram and TikTok @staceykennedybooks and on Facebook at authorstaceykennedy. I love new friends! Happy reading! Stacey Stranded with a Cowboy Stacey Kennedy www.millsandboon.com.au Stacey Kennedy is a USA TODAY bestselling author who writes romances full of heat, heart and happily-ever-afters. Stacey lives with her husband and two children in southwestern Ontario. Most days, you’ll find her enjoying the outdoors or venturing into the forest with her horse, Clementine. Stacey’s just as happy curled up indoors, where she writes surrounded by her lazy dogs. She believes that sexy books about hot cowboys can fix any bad day. But wine and chocolate help, too. For Mom, who rose through the ashes of grief with strength, courage and love. Contents Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Chapter Ten Chapter Eleven Chapter Twelve Chapter Thirteen Chapter Fourteen Chapter Fifteen Chapter Sixteen Epilogue Excerpt from Rags to Riches Reunion by Yvonne Lindsay Prologue Beau Ward sat behind the wheel of his blue Dodge Ram contemplating violence. He’d never considered himself a man who acted out of anger. Most times, he knew to fight with wit over his fists, but as he watched a reporter standing on the grave of his late wife, Annie, who passed away nearly six years ago of a brain aneurysm, his knuckles went white against the steering wheel. For a couple days now, he’d been dodging the few reporters who had descended on the small town, Devil’s Bluffs, like vultures, all because he and his older brother, Colter, had been named Texas’s Sexiest Bachelor in a gossip blog out of New York City. He, and his brother had saved a calf from the rapids, and a photograph of the rescue had been published in the blog’s fifty-state bachelor roundup piece. The article went viral. They’d first focused on Colter as “Texas’s Sexiest Bachelor.” At the time, Colter had wanted the women in town who suddenly realized there was a sexy megarich bachelor in the running off his back. A reporter for the gossip blog who’d run the piece, Adeline had needed her story and an exclusive with Colter, since she’d been up for a promotion. Only problem was, instead of just getting Colter’s story, they fell in love. In the end, Beau gave out details of his life so that Colter and Adeline’s relationship could blossom, and he took over the role as “Texas’s Sexiest Bachelor”. Therefore, Adeline could still get a story and not hurt her relationship with Colter by sharing private details told in confidence. Colter had found love with Adeline as a result of the piece. Beau only found a massive headache. The reporters were hungrier for more of a story than simply a hot bachelor out of Texas. When social media got ahold of his widower status, they wanted the tragic details of his heartbreak of losing his wife and his life as a single dad. Beau wanted none of it. “He’s been taking pictures,” a gravelly voice said. Beau looked to his left, and through the open window spotted the groundskeeper, Fred, who’d worked at the cemetery for as long as Beau could remember. “Thanks for me letting me know.” He’d called twenty minutes ago to give Beau the heads-up. “It ain’t right, man,” Fred said, with a disapproving shake of his head. “No, it’s not.” Heat flushed through Beau as he opened the truck’s door and stepped out into the sunny day. “I’ll deal with him,” he told Fred, offering his hand. Fred’s handshake was tight and firm, much like the man